Man jailed two years for burglary, driving charges

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 24

Man jailed two years for burglary, driving charges

Bernard De Hair, described as articulate and intelligent, was jailed for two years yesterday on charges of burglary, attempted burglary, dangerous driving and disqualified driving. De Hair, aged 32, appeared for sentence on charges which Judge Noble said amounted to another spate of offending by the defendant. Judge Noble rejected a plea by counsel, Mr Mervyn Glue, to have De Hair

assessed for drug treatment at Odyssey House in Auckland. ‘‘You are a long-term recidivist, being before the court on a variety of matters since 1972. “I am satisfied you are a menace to the community and that can only be overcome by removing you from society for a substantial time.” Judge Noble said De Hair was being sentenced for his seventh, eighth

and ninth convictions for driving while disqualified. He also faced sentence for burglary, attempted burglary and dangerous driving. The Judge said he was not satisfied De Hair had the necessary motivation to undertake the Odyssey House treatment programme. Mr Glue said De Hair had been at a low ebb at the time of the offending because of his drug prob-

lem. “He had made quite a dramatic improvement since January. He has settled down. He has a positive attitude to do something to assist himself. “One feels sad when interviewing De Hair because he is obviously a person of considerable intelligence. He is articulate.” Mr Michael Leonard appeared for the Crown.